Complications From Staph Infections

Staphylococcus bacteria--commonly present on the skin and in the nose of even healthy people--usually cause only fairly minor skin infections like boils or abscesses. When Staph bacteria invade the bloodstream, lungs, heart or other organs, serious or even life-threatening complications can result.

Some Patients are a High Risk for Complications

• According to the Mayo Clinic website, serious complications of Staph infections usually occur in people who have weakened immune systems, were recently hospitalized or have a chronic health condition. Complications sometimes occur in people who are otherwise healthy, though.

  Staphylococcus aureus is the most common source of Staph infections, but a mutated form of the bacteria, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), is harder to treat because it responds to fewer antibiotics. Most MRSA infections happen to patients who have had an invasive medical treatment such as surgery, but MRSA infections also occur from contacting MRSA bacteria in community settings.

Sepsis

• When Staph bacteria enter the bloodstream, sepsis can progress to septic shock. Symptoms of sepsis include high or low body temperature, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, rapid breathing and elevated white blood cell count. If any two of those symptoms exist, a patient is diagnosed with sepsis. As sepsis progresses, the patient's mental status can abruptly change, the skin becomes mottled, urine output drastically decreases, heart function becomes abnormal, breathing becomes labored and the platelet count can drop. If the patient's blood pressure drops, the diagnosis is changed to septic shock.

  "Most people recover from mild sepsis, but about 15 percent die," reads a Mayo Clinic fact sheet on sepsis. "Some studies indicate that the mortality rate for severe sepsis or septic shock is close to 50 percent."

  Patients with sepsis are usually admitted to intensive care and given intravenous antibiotics. Depending on the symptoms, they can also be given medications to reduce inflammation, stabilize blood sugar levels, or modify immune system responses. Sedatives and painkillers can also be given.

Endocarditis

• Endocarditis can occur when Staph bacteria migrate and infect the heart. Symptoms of endocaritis include fever, heart murmur, fatigue, aching joints or muscles, shortness of breath, night sweats, persistent cough, swelling, pain of the spleen and paleness. Endocarditis can lead to damage to other organs, stroke and heart failure. Endocarditis is treated with intravenous antibiotics. Surgery to replace or repair heart valves might be needed.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

• Toxic shock syndrome was first described in connection to the use of highly-absorbent tampons but it also develops in connection to wounds. It appears and moves quickly, causing nausea and vomiting, fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion and seizure. Like sepsis, treatment of toxic shock syndrome involves antibiotics, intravenous fluids, dialysis for any severe kidney problems and medications to control blood pressure.

Septic Arthritis

• Septic arthritis is often caused by staph infection. The knee is a typical target but the wrist, ankle, elbow, shoulder or hip can be affected as well. Symptoms can include swelling and severe pain of the affected joint, chills and fever. Antibiotics and draining infected fluid from the joint are the standards of treatment.

Prevention

• Although serous complications don't occur with most Staph infections, everyday precautions are a good idea.

  Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. If you are in a hospital or visiting a medical clinic, ask all health care providers to wash their hands before touching you and make sure they are wearing gloves, gown and mask and sterilize your skin before injecting you or inserting a tube, catheter or similar device.

  Avoid skin-to-skin contact with someone who might have a Staph infection and shower after participating in athletic activity.

  Don't share personal items.

  Keep wounds covered and avoid contact with someone else's bandages.

  Use antibiotics appropriately and take the entire amount a doctor prescribes. Misuse of antibiotics is a factor in the development of MRSA.